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I'm Only Sleeping
(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
John Lennon:
Vocals, acoustic guitar
Paul McCartney: Bass guitar, vocals
George Harrison: Electric guitars, vocals
Ringo Starr: Drums
Recorded
April 27, 28 and May 5, 6 1966.
Available
on:
Revolver
Anthology 2
Like Rain
and Tomorrow
Never Knows, I'm Only Sleeping was also recorded at
various speeds to create a psychedelic drone effect. The
song was perhaps a result of Lennon's flirting with the
drug LSD, however this is speculation. It is also possible
that the song simply is about staying in bed, which Lennon
said in interviews that he enjoyed.
I'm Only
Sleeping was mostly Lennon's work, but the middle eight
where he sings; "Keeping an eye on the world going
by my window," sounds suspiciously McCarntey-ish.
It was
George Harrison's idea to add a backwards guitar solo, and
it took him and producer George Martin six hours to get
it right. Harrison didn't simply record the solo normally
just to play the tape backwards. Martin and himself actually
worked out the notation forwards, and then wrote it out
backwards. Then Harrison played as the notation said, so
that it came out back to front. To make it extra difficult,
they recorded two guitars, one ordinary and one fuzz guitar,
which were super imposed on top of one another.
If one
listens carefully one can hear yawns in the background,
right after the middle eight where the song stops for a
moment. And Paul and George's vocal harmonies mimic alarm
clocks, where John begs "please don't wake me".
I'm Only Sleeping
(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
When I
wake up early in the morning
Lift my head, I’m still yawning
When I’m in the middle of a dream
Stay in bed, float up stream (float up stream)
Please don’t wake me, no, don’t shake me
Leave me where I am, I’m only sleeping
Everybody seems to think I’m lazy
I don’t mind, I think they’re crazy
Running everywhere at such a speed
Till they find there’s no need (there’s no need)
Please don’t spoil my day, I’m miles away
And after all, I’m only sleeping
Keeping
and eye on the world going by my window
Taking my time, lying there and staring at the ceiling
Waiting for a sleepy feeling
Please don’t spoil my day, I’m miles away
And after all, I’m only sleeping.
Keeping
an eye on the world going by my window
Taking my time
When I wake up early in the morning
Lift my head, I’m still yawning
When I’m in the middle of a dream
Staying in bed, float up stream (float up stream)
Please don’t wake me, no, don’t shake me
Leave me where I am, I’m only sleeping
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